Are you an avid rock climber looking for new challenges in the city of lights? Or perhaps you’re a beginner eager to try out this exciting and physically demanding sport? Either way, climbing in Paris has never been so easy, with all the climbing gyms which have been built in the past few years. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the best places to climb in Paris. Whether you prefer bouldering, top rope, or lead climbing, you’ll find a gym that caters to your needs. So if you’re ready to discover your next climbing challenge in Paris, read on!
π§ββοΈ Types of Climbing
In this article, we will talk about two types of climbing you could find in a climbing gym:
- 𧱠Bouldering: You climb on an artificial wall, with routes made with different levels of difficulty. You have a bouldering mat for falling safely. You only need climbing shoes.
- Roped Climbing: You can find three types of roped climbing in a climbing gym:
- πͺ’ Top Rope: the climber is securely attached to a rope which then passes up, through an anchor system at the top of the climb, and down to a belayer at the foot of the climb.
- πͺ’ Lead: It requires that the climber brings the rope up with them and clips each quickdraw on the way up. This is a more advanced form of climbing than top rope.
- 𧲠Top Rope Auto-Belay: An automatic belay device takes up the slack as you climb, thereby negating the need for a belayer on the ground. When the climber reaches the top, or if they fall, the device automatically catches the climber and slowly lowers them to the ground.
π Where to Climb in Paris
In Paris, the majority of the climbing gyms are dedicated to bouldering. However, you can still find a few climbing gyms which offer all types of climbing such as lead/top rope climbing or auto-belay climbing.
Moreover, the different companies have more or less the price, so you will need to evaluate the climbing gyms more on how you feel there.
β° Most of the climbing gyms have happy hours where you can have around 30% discount on some sessions and passes. It is usually during:
- Mon – Fri: morning until 16:00
- Sat / Sun / bank holidays: 18:30 – close
Now, you will need to answer a few questions, so I can show you a selection of the best climbing gyms based on your needs. Let’s go!
π§±πͺ’π§²π§ββοΈπ§ββοΈπΊπ½οΈ
π arkose.com
ποΈ 18β¬/session, 150β¬/10 sessions
π 55β¬/month, 600β¬/year
βΉοΈ Focused on bouldering, they acquired recently all-in-one climbing gyms.
βΉοΈ Information
Arkose is the company with the most bouldering and climbing gyms in Paris and near suburbs. They have currently 4 spots specialized in bouldering. They also acquired recently two climbing gyms from MurMur in Pantin and Issy-Les-Moulineaux which offer top rope/lead climbing.
They also have bars in their climbing gyms, in order to relax and have a beer after your climbing session.
π° Price
ποΈ 1 session | π° 18β¬ β° 11β¬ in Happy Hour |
ποΈ 10 sessions | π° 150β¬ β° 95β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Monthly pass | π° 50β¬/month β° 32β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Yearly pass | π° 550β¬/year β° 350β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Equipment Rental
Climbing shoes | 4β¬ |
Harness | 4β¬ |
π Opening Hours
Mon – Sun: | 07:00 – 00:00 |
β° Happy Hour (to pay cheaper your climbing session):
Mon – Fri: | β’ 07:00 – 16:00 β’ 21:30 – 00:00 |
Sat / Sun / Bank Holidays: | 18:30 – 00:00 |
π Website
π§±πͺ’π§²π§ββοΈπ§ββοΈπΊπ½οΈ
π climb-up.fr
ποΈ 18β¬/session, 150β¬/10 sessions
π 55β¬/month, 605β¬/year
π¦ The biggest all-in-one climbing gyms in Paris
βΉοΈ Information
Climb Up owns two big climbing gyms which include both bouldering and roped climbing:
- Paris at Porte d’Italie: it is the biggest climbing gym in Paris
- Aubervilliers: it is the biggest climbing gym in the world
You can find a bar in their complexes, in order to chill afterward.
π° Price
ποΈ 1 session | π° 18β¬ β° 12β¬ in Happy Hour |
ποΈ 10 sessions | π° 140β¬ β° 100β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Monthly pass | π° 60β¬/month β° 40β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Yearly pass | π° 605β¬/year β° 396β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Equipment Rental
Climbing shoes | 4β¬ |
Harness | 4β¬ |
π Opening Hours
Mon – Sun: | 08:00 β 00:00* *it depends on the climbing gym |
β° Happy Hour (to pay cheaper your climbing session):
Mon – Fri: | β’ 08:00 β 16:00 β’ 21:30 β 00:00 |
Sat / Sun / Bank Holidays: | 18:30 – 00:00 |
π Website
πΊοΈ Map
Bouldering, Top Rope/Lead Climbing
Bouldering, Top Rope Auto-Belay, Top Rope/Lead Climbing
π§±π§²π§ββοΈπΊ
π climbingdistrict.com
ποΈ 18β¬/session, 145β¬/10 sessions
π 58β¬/month, 580β¬/year
πΌ Premium climbing gyms in Paris downtown, with yoga and coworking
βΉοΈ Information
Climbing District is a brand new player in the climbing space in Paris. Their main strength is that you can climb in the center of Paris. They have three climbing gyms dedicated to bouldering only (Buttes-Chaumont, Batignolles, and Pont-de-Neuilly) and one dedicated to top rope climbing auto-belay close to the Saint-Lazare train station in an atypical spot: a chapel!
A bar is available in each of their climbing gyms in order to relax at the end of your session.
π° Price
ποΈ 1 session | π° 18β¬ |
ποΈ 10 sessions | π° 145β¬ β° 95β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Monthly pass | π° 58β¬/month β° 36β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Yearly pass | π° 580β¬/year β° 350β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Equipment Rental
Climbing shoes | 4β¬ |
Harness | 4β¬ |
π Opening Hours
Mon – Fri: | 07:00 – 00:00 |
Sat – Sun: | 08:00 – 00:00 |
β° Happy Hour (to pay cheaper your climbing session):
Mon – Fri: | β’ 07:00 – 16:00 β’ 21:30 – 00:00 |
Sat / Sun / Bank Holidays: | 18:30 – 00:00 |
π Website
πΊοΈ Map
Bouldering
Top Rope Auto-Belay
π§±π§ββοΈποΈββοΈπΊ
π letriangle.net
ποΈ 17β¬/session, 120β¬/10 sessions
π 480β¬/year
βΉοΈ The bouldering gym in the East of Paris
βΉοΈ Information
They have one climbing gym dedicated to bouldering only, in Paris close to Bercy. The price is a bit cheaper than its competitors.
π° Price
ποΈ 1 session | π° 17β¬ β° 12β¬ in Happy Hour |
ποΈ 10 sessions | π° 120β¬ β° 80β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Yearly pass | π° 480β¬/year β° 300β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Equipment Rental
Climbing shoes | 4β¬ |
π Opening Hours
Mon – Fri: | 07:00 – 00:00 |
Sat – Sun: | 08:00 – 00:00 |
β° Happy Hour (to pay cheaper your climbing session):
Mon – Fri: | β’ 07:00 – 16:00 β’ 21:30 – 00:00 |
Sat / Sun / Bank Holidays: | 18:30 – 00:00 |
π Website
πΊοΈ Map
Bouldering
π§±πΊ
π ucpa.com/sport-station/
ποΈ 10β¬/session, 100β¬/12 sessions
π 39.90β¬/month, 358.80β¬/year
π€ The cheapest bouldering gym in Paris
βΉοΈ Information
Opened in 2022, they opened a huge sport facilities, coupled with a hostel. They offer multiple sports in their facilities: bouldering, badminton, squash, padel, and fitness. It is definitely the cheapest bouldering spot in Paris.
π° Price
ποΈ 1 session | π° 10β¬ |
ποΈ 12 sessions | π° 100β¬ |
π Monthly pass | π° 39.90β¬/month |
π Yearly pass | π° 358.80β¬/year |
π Equipment Rental
Climbing shoes | 3β¬ |
π Opening Hours
Mon – Sun: | 07:00 – 23:00 |
π Website
πΊοΈ Map
Bouldering
π§±πͺ’π§²π§ββοΈποΈββοΈπΊπ½οΈ
π antrebloc.com
ποΈ 15β¬/session, 125β¬/10 sessions
π 55β¬/month, 480β¬/year
βΉοΈ The historic all-in-one climbing gym on the outskirts of Paris
βΉοΈ Information
Founded in 1998, Antrebloc is the pioneer climbing gym in the Paris region. It has everything you can expect for climbing, with bouldering, top rope climbing, lead climbing and even auto-belay if you want to climb solo.
π° Price
ποΈ 1 session | π° 15β¬ |
ποΈ 10 sessions | π° 125β¬ β° 85β¬ in Happy Hour |
π Monthly pass | π° 55β¬/month |
π Yearly pass | π° 480β¬/year |
π Equipment Rental
Climbing shoes | 4β¬ |
Harness | 3β¬ |
Climbing shoes + Harness | 5β¬ |
π Opening Hours
Mon – Fri: | 11:00 – 23:30 |
Sat – Sun: | 09:00 – 21:00 |
β° Happy Hour (to pay cheaper your climbing session):
Mon – Fri: | 11:00 – 16:00 |
π Website
πΊοΈ Map
Bouldering, Top Rope Auto-Belay, Top Rope/Lead Climbing
π§±π§ββοΈποΈββοΈπΊπ½οΈ
π blockout.fr
ποΈ 18β¬/session, 146β¬/10 sessions
π 49β¬/month, 588β¬/year
βΉοΈ The bouldering gym on the outskirts of Paris
βΉοΈ Information
Block Out has a climbing gym dedicated to bouldering, which is located on the outskirts of Paris in Saint-Ouen.
π° Price
ποΈ 1 session | π° 18β¬ |
ποΈ 10 sessions | π° 146β¬ |
π Monthly pass | π° 49β¬/month |
π Yearly pass | π° 588β¬/year |
π Equipment Rental
Climbing shoes | 5β¬ |
π Opening Hours
Mon – Fri: | 11:00 – 23:00 |
Sat: | 12:00 – 21:00 |
Sun / Bank Holidays: | 09:00 – 21:00 |
π Website
πΊοΈ Map
Bouldering
Climbing clubs π§±πͺ’π§²
π ffme.fr or Google Search
π Around 100β¬/year
π° The cheapest way to climb in Paris but limited seats per year
βΉοΈ Information
You can climb for much cheaper than with the private structures described previously, by registering with an association. However, you have a waiting list and ballots, with few spots remaining. Pre-registrations and registrations must be done at a defined period.
π° Price
Yearly pass | Around 100β¬/year |
π Opening Hours
Limited time of the day depending on the climbing clubs.
π Website
You can check clubs in:
πΊοΈ The Paris Climbing Gyms Map
You can see in the map below all the climbing gyms in Paris colored by what type(s) of climbing they have:
Press to open the legend, in the top left of the map
Press to open the map in the Google Maps app
Bouldering
Top Rope Auto-Belay
Top Rope/Lead Climbing
Bouldering, Top Rope/Lead Climbing
Bouldering, Top Rope Auto-Belay, Top Rope/Lead Climbing
π Which Climbing Gear to Buy
To climb, you would need different equipment:
- Climbing shoes
- Liquid chalk
or
chalk + climbing chalk bag (if authorized in the climbing gym)
In the case of top rope auto-belay or top rope/lead climbing, you will need in addition:
- Harness
In the case of top rope/lead climbing, you will need in addition:
- Climbing carabiners
- Assisted-braking belay device
βΉοΈ You can usually rent your climbing gear in climbing gyms. However, if you want to practice more often, you might want to buy your own.
Let’s see where you can get them!
π Where to Buy Climbing Gear in Paris
Sometimes, you will be able to buy your climbing gear in the climbing gym. However, if you want a more specialized or cheaper shop, here are my 2 recommendations to try and buy your climbing gear:
π decathlon.fr, shops
π° Shoes from 45β¬, harness from 45β¬
β¨ Simond, La Sportiva, Petzl
π€ The generalist in sports gear at a good price
βΉοΈ Information
Decathlon is a well-known sports shop that sells sports gear for many sports, at a fair price. It has its own brand dedicated to climbing called Simond. It is perfect for beginners.
β¨ Brand
- Simond
- La Sportiva
- Petzl
π° Price
Shoe | From 45β¬ |
Harness | From 45β¬ |
π Where to Buy
You can buy gear:
- π online
- π¬ shops
- ex: 23 Bd de la Madeleine, 75001 Paris: their most central shop in Paris, open 7 days/week
π Website
π auvieuxcampeur.fr, shops
π° Shoes from 45β¬, harness from 33.95β¬
β¨ La Sportiva, Scarpa, EB, etc
π€ The specialist in nature sports
βΉοΈ Information
Au Vieux Campeur is a well-established shop in Paris, specializing in gear for all kinds of nature sports such as hiking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and triathlon.
In this shop, you will be able to find climbing shoes from many specialized brands.
β¨ Brand
- Tenaya
- Ocun
- Madrock
- EB
- Unparallel
- Five Ten
- Scarpa
- La Sportiva
- Boreal
- Petzl
- etc
π° Price
Shoe | From 45β¬ |
Harness | From 33.95β¬ |
π Where to Buy
You can buy gear:
- π online
- π¬ shops in Saint-Michel
Conclusion
To summarize:
- If you want to climb in Paris and be able to practice bouldering as well as lead/top-rope climbing, Climb Up or Arkose is a great choice, you can find everything in one spot. Climbing District can also be interesting if you are ok with auto-belay climbing as well as bouldering, as their climbing gyms are close to many trendy neighbourhoods of Paris.
- If you are looking for the cheapest solution, you might try to be a climbing club member, but the spots are rare, so you need to be lucky π.
You have now all the information to practice this trending sport where everybody is very friendly and respectful to each other.
Enjoy π§ββοΈ